Joey Leilua fit and raring to go for Canberra Raiders' season opener

I'm ready. Canberra Raiders star centre Joey Leilua has declared himself fit for the season opener against the Gold Coast Titans.

But he's not counting his chickens just yet, saying there's plenty of competition for spots in the outside backs.

Raiders centre Joey Leilua is ready to go for round one against the Titans.Credit: Sitthixay Ditthavong

Leilua injured his left hamstring at training a few weeks ago, but said he was over that now.

It's a similar story for Raiders recruit John Bateman, who has put a slight side strain behind himself to also be licking his lips about going to the Gold Coast for round one on March 17.

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Neither played in the Raiders' final trial - against the Canterbury Bulldogs in Bega last weekend - although Leilua felt he could have played.

But it wasn't worth the risk on the eve of the season as the Raiders look to bounce back into the NRL finals.

The 27-year-old was tight-lipped on who would stand outside him on the right edge against the Titans with Jordan Rapana still on the comeback trail from a shoulder reconstruction.

Michael Oldfield's the early favourite, while Bailey Simonsson has also shown he could handle it.

Ex-New Zealand Warrior Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad's another option, although he looks set to get first crack at replacing Jack Wighton at fullback, while Leilua said youngster Seb Kris has also been training well.

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"It's all fine now, it should be ready to go by round one. I don't even know it's there," Leilua said.

"Sometimes I feel like I should've played that trial [in Bega]. I'm excited to get back out of there to play ... all the hard work's done now and we've just got to get out there and perform. Hopefully I'm there."

It was a similar case for Bateman, who's hoping to make his NRL debut against the Titans after the ex-Wigan forward joined the Raiders in January.

"It's good, it was a couple of weeks ago now, the trial game was just a little too early for me," he said.

"Ricky said he didn't want to risk it. It's settled down well and I've been back in training as normal now.

"We're doing a bit of team stuff now so just rolling around and get ready for that one and go up to the Gold Coast and do a job on them so we're looking forward to it."

The England international wasn't taking it for granted he'd get that debut on the Gold Coast in two weeks.

He's been training at lock, but also a little bit of second-row as well - positions Bateman said the Raiders had plenty of depth in.

Elliott Whitehead and Joe Tapine are both world-class second-rowers, while Josh Papalii and Sia Soliola can play both as well.

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But with Papalii moving to prop, Bateman looks set to wear the Raiders' No.13 jersey against the Titans.

"Until the team's actually named you're not really too sure. There's quite a few players in those positions as well so I'll just keep going on as it is," Bateman said.

Leilua was the Raiders' leading try scorer in 2018 with 14, but it was whoever his winger was rather than himself he was hoping to get across the stripe.

Rapana's been the Raiders' top try scorer the previous two seasons, with 21 in 2017 and 22 in 2016.

"Hopefully I can get my winger more tries. I think it was 14 tries [for myself], I'll take that, but I wasn't out there to score tries it just happened and was a credit to our team," Leilua said.

"A bit disappointing last year we didn't make the play-offs, but our main goal this year is lifting up the trophy."